The mortality of all inanimate things is terrible to me, but that of books most of all.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Howells expresses distress over the decay of inanimate things, especially books.
- In plain terms
- He hates that things break down, but books hurt most.
- What can you take from it?
- Physical objects fade, but knowledge loss feels worse.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What should we preserve?
- Why do books matter?
Another view
It overlooks the value of ephemeral experiences.
More from William Dean Howells
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